This photograph from 1892 shows some female members of
Brecon Gymnasium with their instructor, Mr Hawthorn. Mr Hawthorn had moved
from London to Brecon in 1888 where he took up duties as instructor to
the gymnasium. A keen cyclist, he took part
in a cycle race from Abergavenny to Brecon - a distance of 20 miles which
he completed in 1 hour 23 minutes on hard cycle tyres.

Some of the girls on the photograph were named: Misses C Evans, E Price,
E A Bodman, M Davies, M Evans, A T Thomas, M L Lewis and G Evans.

Eight of the senior girls performed exercises on the single and double
bar bell as part of the display they gave.

Members of Brecon Gymnasium, 1892Brecknock Museum and Art Gallery

The male members of the Gymnasium were mentioned in the Brecon
and Radnor Express in 1891:

On Friday evening last, at the Gymnasium, Llanfaes, competitions
took place - the first since the start of the institution - in the presence
of numerous spectators. Mr Percy Morton and Mr. F. A. L. Kitchen were
judges. The competitions, which were open to members of Classes 2 and
3, comprised two set exercises on each apparatus (given by the instructor,
Mr E. Hawthorn). The maximum number of marks that could be obtained was
12 in each exercise or 24 altogether (on the apparatus). For jumping the
maximum number of marks was 15 (1st commencing at 3 feet, 10 inches, and an additional
mark for each additional inch.) For rope climbing the maximum number of
marks allowed was 9). The appended figures show the number of marks in
each competition:

Horizontal Bar

Parallel Bar

Rings

High jump

Rope Climbing

Total

1st, E Williams

19½

19

21

13

8

80½

2nd, W Matthews

14½

15½

16½

9

6½

62

3rd, F Cole

8½

17½

18½

3

4

51½

W Madocks

9½

13½

12

5

5

45

I Wootton

9½

12½

12½

0

3

37½

C W Price

9½

14½

10

0

3

37

C. King

6

6½

12

2

5½

32

E. Williams, W. Matthews, and F. Cole
were awarded a certificate and a pair of Indian cubs (the gift of Mr Percy
Morton) each.

The result of the Indian Club competition
was as follows:- 1st, a book (given by Miss Nellie Morgan) W. Matthews
19 marks out of a possible 20; 2nd, W. Maddocks, 16 ½; T. Maund,
15 ½; C. W. Price, 15 ½; I. Wootton, 13 ½; F. Cole,
12 ½. Each competitor had to swing the clubs for 1 ½ minutes;
marks counted for grace and neatness.

The committee, and the instructor, Mr Hawthorne expecially,
are to be congratulated upon the unprecedented success which has attended
the gymnasium during the present season.